Sick leave / LJWorld.com

Archive for Friday, July 18, 2008

People need to be assured they will not be fired if they are truly sick and unable to work.

J-W Editorials

July 18, 2008

Recently, a Lawrence resident went through a market check-out line and encountered a clerk who clearly was ailing. She was sneezing and coughing and her face was crimson from a probable fever. Told that she needed to get home and "doctor" herself a bit, she responded: "I've used up all my sick leave, I have two children and I just have to work."

In dealing with the public and handling merchandise, how many germs did the dedicated mother transfer to others? There needs to be a better way to deal with such situations.

Shift to a fast-food restaurant in Los Angeles, where a number of times a woman named Manuela Mendez has had to drag herself to work, coughing, feverish and congested. "I go to work no matter what because we need the money," she said, in Spanish, to a reporter. "It's difficult to work. I carry germs that may contaminate my work mates and that's a problem for customers."

Some people, such as Mendez, have no way to take a day of paid sick leave to recover from an illness or injury, see a doctor or care for a family member who is ailing.

There are groups, of which Manuela Mendez is one, who are working to get people at least five paid sick days a year. Says a California political leader, "People shouldn't have to worry that if they get sick they will lose their jobs. Paid sick days are good for a healthy economy and a healthier society."

At least the woman in the local scenario had some sick leave, and that is to the credit of local employers. But what happens when she gets sick again and has no further avenues to take for the benefit of her fellow employees, the store's customers and society in general?

We need to set up systems where people who are sick can have time to get treatment and recuperate without fearing they will lose their jobs.

Discussion

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18 July 2008
at 5:10 a.m.

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AttaGirl (Anonymous) says…

I work in a well known family owned factory here in Lawrence and the owner doesn't believe in Sick Days so the employees don't even have the option of taking sick time off. Instead, we get written up if we miss more than the allowed percentage, which equals to half day a month. Even though we may have vacation days, we cannot call in on a morning we are sick and ask to use a vacation day because they have to pre-approved.
18 July 2008
at 5:48 a.m.

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1Patriot (Anonymous) says…

I have a friend who works for a well know company that pays an additional amount per hour to each employee because the hourly rate is below what the federal government stipulates. However, the company turns around and takes that money back for sick time, vacation and insurance benefits that they offer to each employee. The state Medicaid program has better health insurance benefits! The employee is forced to enroll into their overpriced health insurance. The only option that is given is if they have health insurance through a spouse and even with the proof they stilll have to fight with the company not to take the insurance. About a year ago the company started “farming” out the administration of these benefits. Now, if you have a problem and need to contact someone to straighten it out you are given a phone number to call and you get a call center, in lord knows where, and you get to talk to someone where your conversation starts to take on the feel of the game show, “Are you smarter than a fifth grader.”This is a high profile company in the Lawrence area that is in charge of a hugh amount of government contracts.
18 July 2008
at 6:27 a.m.

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ksdivakat (Anonymous) says…

1patriot……Im sorry, you must work at Vangent!!!!Vangent sucks as far as benefits and the care fo their employees, if the Government knew who the employees were treated, they just may pull all them contracts!!
18 July 2008
at 8:01 a.m.

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Trobs (Anonymous) says…

This sounds a lot like my former job at a factory in Lawrence. We were given 40 hours for the year to miss. If we missed ANY time after that it counted against our attendance. If we missed more then 3 days for any reason without pre-approval it was grounds for firing. Best part is they couldn't figure out why the turnover was so high there. I find it completely ridiculous that it comes down to deciding between working sick or losing your job.
18 July 2008
at 8:19 a.m.

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Jean1183 (Anonymous) says…

I am one of those who is hardly ever sick. Unlike some who “use” their sick time to keep from losing it, mine just accumulates.I think employers should provide a set number of sick days per year…..say 10. Whatever the employee does not use, can be coverted to personal time off at say a ration of 3 to 1. If at the end of the year, I have 3 days unused, then the next year it converts to 1 personal day that I can take whenever I want.That saves the employer from excess abcenses from people taking sick time to do other things, the employee gains by getting time they don't have to lie about, and co-workers aren't left suddenly having to pick up the load from the “sick” employee. There should also be a minimum amount of sick days left before any can be converted. On a 3 to 1 ratio, I suggest 5. That way the other two days still get rolled over as sick days so the employee is still accumulating sick days that can be used if they have an extended illness.
18 July 2008
at 8:30 a.m.

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SettingTheRecordStraight (Anonymous) says…

“There are groups, of which Manuela Mendez is one, who are working to get people at least five paid sick days a year.”Warning!!! This is code for government forcing employers to do something that the free market does not require of them. Bad, bad idea.
18 July 2008
at 8:33 a.m.

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budwhysir (Anonymous) says…

Yep, I bet if alot of these people had sick leave, they would have a very hard time in choosing the days they are sick enough to use a sick day and days they are just sick of working and dont feel like going in. Between holidays off and 3 days of sick leave, I manage to keep myself at work without being sick. Maybe Im special????

18 July 2008
at 8:34 a.m.

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Trobs (Anonymous) says…

I do not believe the government should force employers to provide sick days, but there should be protection for employees who are truly sick. When it's all about the bottom line the employees are an easy sacrifice. That's why you never hear about the big men on top taking a pay cut when they can just layoff workers.
18 July 2008
at 8:47 a.m.

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gr (Anonymous) says…

What happens when she misses a month? Two months? Six months?”But what happens when she gets sick again and has no further avenues to take”Shouldn't there be a limit? Businesses can't operate if their employees are sick all the time. There has to be some limit. Sickly people are non-productive. People who show up to a certain degree of sickness should be sent home.As far as a partial conversion of unused sick time to personal time, that would still be encouraging abuse. I say, give so many days off and the employee can take it as sick time or vacation time.
18 July 2008
at 9 a.m.

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zettapixel (Anonymous) says…

I think a policy of 10 sick days per year is good with a doctor's excuse being necessary for someone out sick for 3 days or more at a time. If the person is ill with a disease or condition that will keep them out longer than 10 days, and they're salary, then they should be given up to 3 months time to recuperate and given a reduced salary of 50% of what they would normally make. The other 50% of their salary can be used to find temporary help until the person is able to get back to work. After 3 months, well, employees are the lifeblood of a business, so steps should be taken to find a new full time person and unfortunately, let the sick person go.
18 July 2008
at 9:11 a.m.

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repaste (Anonymous) says…

warning we should let big biz do whatever they want to do. The will not take all our jobs overseas, they will not put poisons in their products, they will not sell crappy loan packages to our biggest banks requiring billions in bailouts, they will not hoard energy contracts, causing soaring energy costs and shortages. They must be allowed profit at all(our) costs. warning
18 July 2008
at 9:29 a.m.

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brotherskeeper (Anonymous) says…

They have solved the problem… it is called “paid time off”. 2 - 3 weeks a year. Sick or at the beach it's all the same. No lying, no confusion… if you are sickly then I guess it will eat in to vacation plans. Plus hundreds of studies have been done that point to sick days being taken mostly on Mondays and Fridays because it converts to a 3-day weekend.
18 July 2008
at 9:33 a.m.

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rodentgirl16 (Anonymous) says…

Attagirl,Does this happen to be a certain printing company? If so, been there, done that.
18 July 2008
at 9:41 a.m.

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samsnewplace (Anonymous) says…

everyone gets sick at some point in time, wake up world, that is called being human not a machine!
18 July 2008
at 10:01 a.m.

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budwhysir (Anonymous) says…

I was off work for 3 months after surgery, real excuse used, company had no problems with me taking time off. Wonder why I didnt have to whine and complain

18 July 2008
at 10:01 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

“People who show up to a certain degree of sickness should be sent home.”–”Sickly” can't be very different based on the job alone.Some jobs, people are exposed to a limited number of others during the week, and say, if the person is a workaholic, or single they have limited exposure to family members who may come home ill and spread the bug throughout the family.On the other hand, food service,medical workers, checkers, and many others jobs have the person 'touch' many things the public handles, like plates, money. Standing face to face with 200 people a day. This leads to far more illnesses contracted.Then you add in children at home. My kids were very healthy. Then they went into preschool, and later school. The amount of illness, first in them, then my husband and I skyrocketed. Often if seemed the bug would just complete the rounds of the family, and then a new bug would come home and it all went around again.I've never worked at a place that had a certain number of sick days. However, any illness some looked at everyone suspiciously. This was wrong, because I never called in ill unless I was too ill to function.I once walked out one night when I worked at Pizza Hut years ago. There were two ast mgrs working that night and I was the only waitress. I had a 104 fever, coughing, etc. The customers back then were 75% regulars, parents that had known me for years. When the customers are caring and telling you to go home, it's tough when the 19 yr old ast mgr that's leaving says, “Too bad, I have plans and won't stay.”A couple of hours later my temp rose, and I went home. I could barely stand. Never went back. As soon as I was well, I walked into a place across the street and got a job.Lincoln freed the slaves.
18 July 2008
at 10:13 a.m.

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fourkitties (Anonymous) says…

I was working for a well known Vet here in town and one year I got really sick unexpectedly. Each time I couldn't come into work I had a signed doctors note saying I needed to stay home, I was running a fever, I had a very bad bronchial infection. All the office manager said to me was “I need you to be at your shifts.”I was flabbergasted. The doctor was pleading with me to stay home for just a week to get back on my feet again. I kept telling him what my manager was saying and he said he'd “gladly give her a call himself”. I was so afraid of being fired though I told him not to worry about it and to just give me the notes. She saw me at wal-mart one day when I was sick and assumed i was out having fun. No, no, Wal-mart isn't for fun… I was getting Decongestants at a cheap price and filling a prescription. She preceded to tell the rest of the staff I was at wal-mart though I was supposed to be sick. Apparently she didn't see the cart full of nyquil, Guadifessen, and prescriptions.When I get my own Veterinary license and have a clinic I will make sure that any of my employees have sick time.
18 July 2008
at 10:18 a.m.

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budwhysir (Anonymous) says…

This is funny, a bunch of people posting comments about getting off work cause they are sick, still yet, they are posting during business hours. How many of you are at work and should be working? Does the boss know you are reading the paper? Would you get fired for not doing your work while you are at work?? Or maybe all of you called in sick so you could write on the ljw all day long. I must go now, too sick to type. sniffle sniffle.
18 July 2008
at 10:21 a.m.

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peachesncream (Anonymous) says…

After reading your stories , ive decided i have the BEST boss in the world. i can walk into his office and say my kid is not feeling well, and he goes ok see ya when he gets better. or he has even walked up to me and said you dont look so good , and i will say eh not feeling my best and he will go then go home and see ya when you are better. And i get paid for sick leave. sorry you all have such terrible ppl to work for.
18 July 2008
at 10:33 a.m.

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budwhysir (Anonymous) says…

Ya my boss lets me post comments on the local newspaper while I work, I feel sorry for all of you>>>>
18 July 2008
at 11:01 a.m.

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Confrontation (Anonymous) says…

I'd recommend to all of you who don't have sick time, or for those who have it but are penalized for using it, just puke on the floor of your boss's office. Make sure that idiot shares in your joyful day. It seems like the jobs where sick days are needed most, are the ones that don't offer enough/any time off. Let's say you put your elderly mom into a nursing home. Most nursing homes punish the workers, who often can't afford the health insurance, if they use a sick day. So, the workers bring their illnesses around your mother, who has a weakened immune system. Same thing with children's hospitals. Since many employers aren't concerned enough about their employees/customers, then it needs to be federally mandated.
18 July 2008
at 11:18 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Timing is everything. Just saw this. ;)http://graphjam.wordpress.com/files/2008/07/funny-graphs-fever.gif
18 July 2008
at 11:23 a.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

Or buy this picture and hang it above the bosses desk.http://punditkitchen.wordpress.com/files/2008/07/political-pictures-hugo-chavez-socialist-art-attacks.jpg

18 July 2008
at 11:46 a.m.

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twaldaisy (Anonymous) says…

Well, Bud I for one work 2nd shift, you know what they about assuming…Anyway, I work at a hospital and our time is all lumped into a bank. The percentage of time off earned is based on how long you have been there. It equals out to be about 4 weeks a year for the first 3 years and goes up. This does include holidays, sick time, and vacation time. What ever is left over goes into a “reserve bank”. We pick how many we want to go into the bank and get paid out the rest as a bonus check. It is also mandatory to use 176 ours a year, so no matter what, we HAVE to use 176 hours per year or you lose it. Of course I am greedy and usually will work the holidays.
18 July 2008
at 12:24 p.m.

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bugmenot (Anonymous) says…

Brotherskeeper, our company has that and then you get people coming in sick and infecting everyone so they don't have to use their vacation time as sick time.
18 July 2008
at 12:34 p.m.

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fourkitties (Anonymous) says…

Bowhunter99My problem with that office was that even after 3 notes from my doctor I still couldn't get any time off. (It ended up with me having pneumonia/bronchitis and they still wanted me to go into exams) If ANY of my employees came to me with notes from a doctor especially after 3 of them I would give them some time off. Its my or my office manager's responsibility to make sure I have full staff and extras if someone is sick. Whether those extras be family members or friends or extra staff that is doing nothing around the clinic. I never said I wouldn't have difficulties.
18 July 2008
at 12:37 p.m.

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KS (Anonymous) says…

As an employer, I offer sick leave. The unfortunate part about it is that employees want to use it for reasons other than sick leave. Then when they do get sick, guess what? They come to work sick! It's not called vacation or personal days. It is called sick leave for a reason. Use it for its intended purpose and maybe one doesn't have to show up at work sick and spread germs, etc. to the rest of us.
18 July 2008
at 12:40 p.m.

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valgrlku (Anonymous) says…

One overlooked aspect to this story is how the lack of sick days and the possibility of termination from a job most often affect women with children disproportionately. It is generally the mother who cares for the sick children or other family members and who often then cannot take the time off to care for herself when she is indeed ill. Your sick days might seem adequate if they are used for yourself. However, add multiple people to your care list, and they can be diminished quickly. Plus, sick children are often sent home from school or daycare, and there may not be anyone else available to care for them. It is a shame that so many women, especially those in low-paying jobs with few or no benefits, must decide between losing their jobs or caring for those who need it (and please, don't make the argument that one should just choose to not have children or care for others or just find a “better” job - as reality often does not coincide with those particular arguments).
18 July 2008
at 12:55 p.m.

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swonder44 (Anonymous) says…

Great point KS. My company (not in Kansas) changed its policy recently on sick leave b/c as you state, people were abusing it (shock)! They would know exactly how long between “sick” days were needed to avoid a warning, and it was played to the line many times. While the changes (yeah, things CHANGE) obviously drew criticism at first, the absences drastically changed, and a survey of employees (primarily at the location abusing the system) revealed employees were not coming in sick as often as in the past. Could it be for what KS posted? Hmmmm….Before you take a position, benefits can be just as important as pay - get the information up front before you decide to work for an employer… it is your choice after all. AH-CHOO!!!!!
18 July 2008
at 1:01 p.m.

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twaldaisy (Anonymous) says…

Good point val. When I was a manager I would get irritated when folks would call in sick because their kids were sick. But then it sunk in that the kid can't go to school or day care like that. I still had some irritation but at a much lower level. LOL It's a tough call because you have people that abuse the calling in sick and then the others that genuinely use sick time appropriately. Seems to me that if the person is snotting all over the place, coughing, etc it is obvious they are sick and should be sent home without penalty.
18 July 2008
at 1:02 p.m.

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budwhysir (Anonymous) says…

What do they say about assuming? never heard. I would assume that you have already slept 8 hours to ward off any germs that may come your way.

18 July 2008
at 1:06 p.m.

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budwhysir (Anonymous) says…

I think one benefit of having sick leave is that you can use it for whatever you want and you dont have to be sick. I am sick of people being sick.
18 July 2008
at 1:06 p.m.

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coolmom (Anonymous) says…

exactly valgriku, i have always been a good employee no matter what the job from burger king, to the military to teaching and i tend to be healthy as well but i have kids and they are not always healthy. last year one of my teens got pnumonia and nearly died, 22 days in the childrens hospital in intensive care. then he has been more likely to get other bugs. i sub so i can pick and choose now when i need time off and i have a good hubby with a good job that let him take time off as well since we were dealing with that and an adoption plus other kids at home but i know lots of people who have to choose kids or job? people will always take advantage of any system meant to help them but what about solid responsible american?
18 July 2008
at 1:48 p.m.

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ksdivakat (Anonymous) says…

Maybe we should take a lesson from France, and Europe, they have 2-3 months vacation time, 5 weeks sick time!Hummmmmm, their employees are happy, healthy and show up to work! They MAKE them take their “holiday” (vacation) its not a matter of NOT taking it and the time rolling over….they have it right, you cannot overwork yourself, or you are miserable, unhappy, nonproductive, and European businesses are thriving…..maybe we need to look at that concept!
18 July 2008
at 2 p.m.

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tinytown (Anonymous) says…

Wow - my experience is from the opposite end of the spectrum. I presently work for a company that offers unlimited sick time. This is the 2nd company I've worked for with this policy and guess what? Hardly anyone ever takes a sick day or calls in sick. I haven't taken a sick day for myself in over 4 years (bc I haven't been sick) but have taken 0-2 days each year for my child. Given the opportunity, most adults act like adults when treated that way.
18 July 2008
at 2:15 p.m.

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vpete69 (Anonymous) says…

Maybe people should save their sick time for the times that they really are sick.
18 July 2008
at 2:31 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

I hear Utah just went to a 4 day work week.—valgrlku (Anonymous) says: One overlooked aspect to this story is how the lack of sick days and the possibility of termination from a job most often affect women with children disproportionately. It is generally the mother who cares for the sick children or other family members and who often then cannot take the time off to care for herself when she is indeed ill.+++I also agree. I once worked for King Radio and their hours started at like 7 am or so. This meant people with children had to have someone else be able to get those children ready/taken to school.Yes, most of their assembly floor was female, but many were older women, or women who's kids were old enough to get ready on their own. Some had extended familes to help each day.I felt this was definitely part of King Radio's strategy to have fewer “Mothers with children”, and thus cut down on absentees.–4kitties,I worked for a vet for a few years. He was so laid back about these things. If anyone was ill, we all just pitched in and covered things. He had 3 kids, so he really knew about family struggles.I think the only person at a vet's that would have a lot of trouble is the person who cleans the cages on weekends. A vet comes in to check and give meds, but doesn't want to spend the time exercising dogs and cleaning cages.I'm giggling, thinking of what vet you might work for. Different ones I know come to mind.We have some real 'pieces of work' in this town.
18 July 2008
at 2:46 p.m.

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ksdivakat (Anonymous) says…

tinytown …..where do you work?? Sign me up!!! LOL
18 July 2008
at 2:50 p.m.

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ksdivakat (Anonymous) says…

Well, heres the real deal, those companies who push to come to work even if your obviously sick, and this is in the instance in people who do not abuse the system, the problem is most companies, 99% of them could care less about their employees, they care about the bottom line, money, the almighty dollar, and they could care less if your sick, your kids are sick, or your ailing mother is sick, they want you to show up, coughing, puking, hacking all over each other, and if you get your coworker sick oh well, he has to come to work too….this is why Americans are a miserable bunch of people!Yeah glock….lets not do anything to make this a better situation, lets just waller in misery and make sure we take everyone else down with us!

18 July 2008
at 2:59 p.m.

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Trobs (Anonymous) says…

My boss made me go home, twice. We had clients in house and he didn't want me getting anyone sick, especially the clients. My boss even took three days off for illness once. That's always a good sign of the sick policy
18 July 2008
at 3:52 p.m.

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gr (Anonymous) says…

“Brotherskeeper, our company has that and then you get people coming in sick and infecting everyone so they don't have to use their vacation time as sick time.”Simple. Send them home. Or dismiss them.You need to decide if having sick/vacation time is important. If people won't take time off when allowed to, what more can you do. It sounds more like a greed issue. Don't penalize those who aren't sick.
18 July 2008
at 7:02 p.m.

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notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Confrontation (Anonymous) says: “Let's say you put your elderly mom into a nursing home. Most nursing homes punish the workers, who often can't afford the health insurance, if they use a sick day. So, the workers bring their illnesses around your mother, who has a weakened immune system. Same thing with children's hospitals.”And what kind of care does your elderly mother or your children get when someone's not there and the facility can't replace them? How much more does it cost your elderly mother, or you for your kids, when they have to pay overtime to get someone to take the shift - on top of what they're paying the sick person? What kind of care does your elderly mother or your child get when the person taking care of them has worked for 24 or 32 straight hours but can't leave because they're mandated and can't leave the patients without coverage when someone calls in sick? Or from someone who's worked 80+ hours that week because of other emploees' absences?********************I understand what people are saying here. But the fact is the employer is not saying you have to come in when you're sick - but *someone* has to be there, so if you can't be, they have every right to fire you and get someone else. If you're not capable of fulfilling your obligation to your employer and to that employer's customers, then they have the right, and the obligation to their customers, to replace you with someone who can.
18 July 2008
at 7:44 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

What kind of care does your elderly mother or your child get when the person taking care of them has worked for 24 or 32 straight hours but can't leave because they're mandated and can't leave the patients without coverage when someone calls in sick? -Nota–That happened to me!My son's daily nurse took some nightshift/weekend shifts at a KC nursing home. One day, the person who was to take over his shift didn't come to work, and he was obligated to stay even though he had other commitments in the same profession-our house, his regular job.He also forgot to take his cell phone and they wouldn't let him call out of town to tell me.I was supposed to call the agency that he came to us through, but I knew something had to be wrong, he just wasn't a no show kind of man.So I waited until I heard from him.He was really nice. Helpful.On the other hand, he had to borrow $60.00 and some gas money to pay for his nursing license renewal by a certain date.He never paid me back, as broke as we were.Jerk.
18 July 2008
at 8:13 p.m.

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notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

It happens all the time in nursing - in most cases they're mandated, and they can't leave until/unless someone shows up to cover the patients. I've worked with a lot of nurses who couldn't go pick up their kids from school/daycare, missed many nights away from their homes and families, had other family members forced to miss work to take care of the kids, etc.Healthcare positions are, of course, somewhat different, but the principal is the same for any business. The customers suffer when staff isn't there, which means the business eventually suffers. Yes, people have a right to be sick and to stay home when they are. But employers have the right to have someone filling the employee's position and taking care of the customers, not to mention not having to pay one emplyee for not being there *plus* another at time-and-a-half for covering.
18 July 2008
at 11:05 p.m.

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hitme (Anonymous) says…

Illness time is for the weak. It's called natural selection. We need to fire the sick and weed them out to make our businesses stronger. Burn their bodies on a big bonfire.
19 July 2008
at 7:36 a.m.

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davidsmom (Anonymous) says…

There is no perfect solution because some people genuinely get sick and there will always be others who will abuse the system.
19 July 2008
at 12:06 p.m.

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notajayhawk (Anonymous) says…

davidsmom;It's worse than that. There will never be a perfect solution because both sides are right.

19 July 2008
at 9:58 p.m.

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Pogo (Anonymous) says…

….and state “Civil Service” people have the nerve to complain about their “benefit package”……they “earn” one sick day per month and it accumulates year in and year out. It's good to be King.
20 July 2008
at 10:49 p.m.

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ignati5 (Anonymous) says…

As a businessman who deals with employee absenteeism, and knows the difference between an employee actually being ill and “calling in sick,” I would suggest a remedy that would work to the mutual benefit of employee and management alike.Fifty years ago, some businesses retained a physician on staff who would make a house call to an employee who called in sick: go to their home, examine them, and prescribe necessary medication. Imagine! Expensive for the company, yes, but a nice fringe benefit for the ailing employee. Perhaps no costlier than the proliferation of undocumented “sick days”. IVK
21 July 2008
at 8:39 a.m.

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Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…

“As a businessman who deals with employee absenteeism, and knows the difference between an employee actually being ill and “calling in sick,” I would suggest a remedy that would work to the mutual benefit of employee and management alike.”=====Another possibility, the boss goes to the employee's home when they call in sick, just to wish them well and to see if they need anything to help them get well sooner. Sick leave is not required as a benefit and people who abuse it are (or should be) subject to dismissal.
21 July 2008
at 9:02 a.m.

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fu7il3 (Anonymous) says…

I've worked several jobs that had no sick leave. Sick leave is great, but it can be abused. Now that I have it, I rarely use it. If I'm not dying, I go to work.The market determines what sort of benefits you get in a job. If you have a job where you get no sick leave, no insurance, whatever, get a new job. If you can't get a new job, get some new skills so you can get a new job.I hate to be cold about it, but mandatory sick leave would not help the economy. The cost would be passed to consumers, raising the costs of everything, including the cost of living.I feel for people that don't get sick leave. Like I said, I was there. But I managed.
13 November 2008
at 8:08 a.m.

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rrpostal (Anonymous) says…

Europe only works 8 months a year? What? Let me see those statistics again…Well, having researched it there are certainly differences, but they are not THAT different.”According to Hewitt Associates, the country with the most vacation days is Denmark with 31, followed closely by Austria and Finland at 30 days. France and Norway are at 25 days, Germany at 24 days, Belgium, Ireland, the U.K., the Netherlands and Switzerland each at 20 days. Non-European countries measured include Brazil at 22 days, Australia at 20 days and Colombia and New Zealand each at 15 days. The U.S. is second from the bottom with 10 days, tied with both Canada and Japan. Only Mexico, with a piddly six days, offers employees less vacation time. “seems like a north american problem. I don't know about you guys, But I have worked somewhere in the US where I had 6 weeks a year, which is more than any of those averages. The job I just left I had 3 1/2 weeks, which is still up there.
13 November 2008
at 10:04 p.m.

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jimincountry (Anonymous) says…

Some people believe that they are entitled to everything they can get away with………sick leave is so abused it's unbelievable!